Handbag



Aug. 16, 1938. A; LANDlS 2,126,898

HANDBAG Filed Oct. 18, 1937 HIIHIIHIIHIIUIHH( 4.

f/l/llllmmu Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to handbags.

One object of the invention is to provide a handbag having an improved internal secret pocket concealed by a flap-like lining member.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a handbag in which a concealing ap lining member for a secret pocket is so arranged relative to the bag body, in respect to size or proportion or in relation to infolding gussets as not to be noticeable when the handbag is opened.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a handbag having a ap closure from which depends in utmost uniformity a concealing lining member for a secret pocket in the bag body so that the lining member appears to be merely a part of the flap lining.

Another object of the invention is to construct a handbag having a secret pocket in the body thereof, and a lining member connected to the handbag ap to provide a secret pocket in register with the rst secret pocket with the lining member depending to conceal both, whereby elongated articles may be disposed and hidden from view.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lining member to conceal a secret pocket wherein the lining member depends into the bag body and is reliably so retained by a weighting container or by a resilient strip element that expands into the bag body, or both.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a secret pocket accessible for small articles from within the bag body and accessible for large articles from the outside of the bag body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag body having a secret pocket provided with a relatively concealed closable bottom opening, with the side and end walls being simple and uniform in structure.

Another object of the' invention is to provide a handbag having slide fastener means for the top and bottom openings of pockets, arranged to operate in dierent directions for the close packing of articles in the pockets as a result of different degrees of gusset expansion at different parts of the pockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handbag having few and simple parts, and which is durable and reliable, inexpensive to make, convenient, neat, compact and eiTicient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specication proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements `of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed outin the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing: l

Figure l is an isometric sectional view of onehalf of a handbag embodying the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional viewsl taken respectively on lines 2-2 and 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a bottom porf tion of the handbag.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation with parts removed showing the handbag in open position and with the secret pocket exposed.

Fig. 'l is a perspective view of a modified handbag.

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof with a part removed.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated-in several different constructions. Thev accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a handbag embodying the invention. The same includes a bag body comprising side walls I I, I2, opposite end walls or gussets I3, and a bottom wall I4, interconnected to provide a compartment open at the top. This top opening may be closed by a ap I5 which is an extension of the side wallIZ and is foldable to closed position in the usual manner.

Within the bag body is a lining which is folded at the bottom at I6 to provide upward extending side wall sections I'I, I8. The section I'I is connected to the wall II as at the top thereof at I9 and at the ends thereof at 20. The section IB is connected to the wall I2 at the ends thereof as at 2l. Further the bottom portion I6 is connected to the gussets I3 at the bottom ends thereof as at 22. Otherwise the lining is free or suinciently so to furnish with the wall I2, a secret pocket 23, and with the wall II, a secret pocket 24. Of these the former may open upwardly, the latter downwardly as shown.

liliy Connected to the flap at the end as at 25 is a lining member 26 which is also connected to the sides of the flap as at 21 to thus provide a secret .pocket 28 in register with the secret pocket 23. .The connection 21 terminates at the mouth of the latter, and the lining member 26 is formed with an integral lining portion 29 forming an extension which drapes down freely over and conceals the secret pocket 23. The lining element 29 extends almost to the bottom I6 so as to be concealed in the bag, and extends substantially from one to the other of the end walls I3.

The gussets I3 are considerably infolded so as to overlie and hold and conceal the side edges of the lining member 29.

The lining member 29 may be weighted to retain its position as by pocket forming wall 30, or by a purse 3l or both. The wall 30 may be secured to the lining member 29 as at 32, and the purse 3| may be suitably secured to the wall 30. Both the purse and the pocket formed by the wall 30 open upwardly for ready access at the handbag-mouth.

To retain the lining member 29 longitudinally taut, a stiifener or resilient strip element 33 may be connected along the lower edge of the lining member. For example, an extension of the latter may be upwardly folded at 34 and stitched at 35-to form a hem retainer for the element 33 and to form the -wall 39 and the bottom for the pocket thereof. The hem 34 may enclose the ends of the element 33, withzthe latter disposed in end abutment with the gussets I3 and under the folds thereof.

A closure means may include a snap fastener socket 36 securedto the wall II, and a snap fastener head 31vsecured to the flap I5 o r the lining 26 thereof. If desired, a snap fastener socket 38 may be xed to the lower edge part of the lining member 29.

'Ihe bottom I6 may be in substantial contact with the bottom I4 so that the pocket 23 may be substantially closed at its lower end, if desired.

The bottom wall I4 may have a longitudinalopening closed by a slide fastener 39. When the latter is opened, access is had to the secret pockets 23, 24, and 28. To conceal the means 39, the side walls II, I2 may have downward extending portions 4'0 which extendbelow the slide fastener and-tend to conceal the same.- These portions 40 lie belowv the connections at 4I be-. tween the stringers or bottom wall I4 and the side walls II, I2. When the slide fastener `is closed, it closes snugly over the free edges of the gussets to close the bottom of the bag.

The manner of using the handbag will now be briefly described. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the purse, the pocket at 30, andthe main pocket can be readily and conveniently used in the usual manner. The lining member 29 drapes down uniformly from the flap I and as a part thereof. It extends almost to the bottom and from end to end. It may be held even by the stiffener 33, or by the weighting containers 30, 3I or both. The infolded gussets I3 'help to conceal the side edges of the lining member. Thus there is nothing to suggest a secret pocket or anything else unusual about the bag structure. When access to the secret pocket 23 is desired, the lining member 29 is swung outwardly. The element 33 may be flexed to-facilitate the movement. In folding the lining member 29 on itself,

it assumes the position shown in Fig. 6.` This folding causes the pocket 30 to be closed against the loss of articles.- The fasteners 31, .38 may be connected to keep the mouth of the secret pocket 23 free and open. Reverse movements return the handbag to the position of Fig. 1, and the flap I5 may be closed and secured at the fasteners 36, 31. When thus closed, the handbag may be inverted, and the slide fastener 39 opened for access to the secret pockets 23, 24 and 28.

Small articles and papers may be placed in the f secret pocket 23 by raising the lining member 29 as above described. For large or bulky articles, the slide fastener 29 is used. In this manner, the secret pockets 23, 28 may form a single very large secret pocket, in which documents may be inserted fiatwise and protectively folded by folding the flap I5 to closed position. A still larger object may be inserted by folding one end portion thereof into the pocket 24. If preferred, the pocket 23 may be closed at its bottom, so that only the pocket 24 shall be communicable with the slide fastener. For this purpose, the walls I2 and I8 may be connected together.

As already stated, the slide fastener 39-is concealed between the botton extensions 49.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a handbag 45 according to a modified form of the invention.` This is generally like the handbag I9, except that the flap I5 is omitted and a slide fastener 46 is used in place thereof. In that case, .the lining member 29a is connectedzto the side wallv IZa at 41 in a conventional manner to thus conceal the secret pocket 23. The top and bottom slide fasteners 39 and 4'6 are of the usual type and each is preferably permanently closed at one end asV at 48. However, in the device 45, these slide fasteners are operative in opposite directions, as will now be described. Fig. '1 is diagrammatic with partsOmitted.

In Fig. '7, the handbag is shown with both slidefasteners wholly opened. Itwill now be seen that with the upper slide fastener opening toward the left, the upper rightend of the upward opening pocket of the handbag can be fully expanded at the right gusset I3. With the lower `slide fastener opening toward the right, the lower left portion of the downwardopening pocket can be fully expanded by expansionof the left gusset I3. This arrangement permits the pockets, which lie alongside of `each other, to be fully packed with articles without causing unduebulgingat any point of the bag. In practice, only one;s1ide fastener is open at one time but the same results follow. Otherwise, the con-` structionandmode of use of the bag 45 is that of the bag I0.

It will be ap-preciated that a secret pocket of like the type herein mentioned may be provided at either side of the handbag, and that the inven` therewith, the other wall section being connected' to the endsxof the other side wall andA being otherwise free ofthe latter to provide an upward opening secret pocket therebetween, a aplike-lining, member connected to therbagbodyto depend over and conceal the'secret pocket, the lining member being removably extended .into theY bag body, andthe said bottomiwall having means providing a closable opening communicating with both of said secret pockets.

2. A handbag according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the internal wall member is in engagement with said bottom wall to form an openable closure separating the upward and downward opening secret pockets.

3. A handbag comprising a bag body, the latter having side and end walls providing therebetween a main compartment open at the top of the bag body, one of said side walls having an upward opening secret pocket therein and having an upward extension constituting a closure ap for said top opening, above the secret pocket, and a lining member connected to said iiap along the sides and end thereof, said lining member having an extension lining portion depending over the secret pocket into the main compartment into relative proximity to the bottom thereof, said lining member being substantially of the length of the distances between said end walls, and means comprising a pair of elements for releasably connecting the lining member to the ap so that the lining member is held in outwardly swung position by the flap when the latter is in open position, one of said elements being on the flap, and a third element on the bag body releasably cooperative with the element on the ap to hold the latter in closed position.

4. A handbag including a bag body comprising side and end walls and a bottom wall, the bag body having a top opening, an internal lining means connected to the bag body substantially along said top opening and having a bottorn fold adjacent to said bottom wall, said lining means providing lining sections forming side pockets between the sections and the adjacent respective side walls of the bag body, and said bottom wall having means including an openable closure for access to both of said side pockets, one of said lining sections affording a secondary top opening for one of said side pockets, and the lining means including a depending lining element folding downward into the bag body in the manner of a flap to overlie and conceal said secondary top opening of said side pocket.

5. A handbag including a bag body having side walls and end walls having gussets extending substantially the full depth of the bag body, a lining` means in said bag body affording an upward opening pocket means, a depending lining member secured to the bag body extending over said pocket means to conceal the top opening thereof so as to provide a secret pocket, said bag body having a bottom wall having means providing a closable opening communicating with the secret pocket means, and the infolded portions of the end gusset walls serving to overlie and hold the said lining member in its concealing position.

AARON LANDIS. 

